Beth brown



(No Model.) 2-Sheets-Sheet 2; G. H. BROWN.

FRUIT GRATE.4 Y No. 375,530. A Patented Dec. 27, 1887.

Q f @i 344mm QwyeEl-Ifrowm N: PETERS. FhomLhngraphar. Wllhingnn, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY BROWN, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELIZA-v BETH BROWN, OE SAME PLAGE.

FRUIT-C RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,530. dated December 27, 1887.

Application tiled .T une 28, 1887.

.T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.: ,Y Y

Be it known th at I, GEORGE HENRY BROWN, a citizen of vthe United States, residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fruit-crates, and particularly that kind which is used for the transportation of berries; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, which will be more fully hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claim.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a fruit-crate which has itsside and end slats arranged in such a manner that a perfect ventilation of the fruit will be provided, the current of air passing between the boxes or baskets of berries in a horizontal plane and upwardly through the saine in a vertical plane.

A further object of my invention is .to provide a fruit-crate which is simple and effective in its construction, strong and durable, easily handled and readily understood, and cheaply manufactured.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts i n the several views, and in which- Figure l is a perspective View of my improved fruit-crate with the lid thereof shown closed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section with the divisional partitions in position, with some of the baskets removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the crate on line w x of Fig. V2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section.

A indicates the longitudinal bottom and top strips secured to the sides of the crate, and B B the vertically-arranged strips secured to the longitudinal strips A, as shown.

On the ends of the boX a series oi' horizontally-arranged strips, C, are provided and secured to vertically-arranged strips C. The vertically-arranged strips O are covered at their upper and lower `portions by the longitudinal strips A, secured to the sides of the box. While the strips B and C are arranged at right angles to each other, they are at the Serial No. 242,788.

(No model.)

same time arranged in a vertical plane as to their width. In the said crate divisional partitions are formed, which are removable from the crate, said partitions D consisting of a series of horizontally-arranged strips, d,to the top surfaces vof which transverse strips b are secured, running at right angles to the strips d. These partitional strips D, as will be readily understood, are for the purpose of separating the baskets and forming the support therefor by coming in contact with the top surfaces of the row below. Between the strips B B a space, B', is left, which is situated in a line with the space formed between the baskets 'when arranged in the crate, as shown in Fig.

1, and more clearly shown in Fig. 5.. rIhe intervening spaces separating the strips C register or coincide with the longitudinal spaces formed between the rows of baskets in a man- 7o ner similar to the spaces separating the strips B with relation to the transverse spaces between the rows of baskets, as before described.

When the baskets have been arranged within the crate, the strips C are inline with v and thereby close the upper edge of the baskets, and thereby prevent any fruit being withdrawn therefrom through the openings formed between the strips C.

When the divisional partitions D are ar- 8o ranged in position in the crate, the outer longitudinal strips, d, rest on the top edges of the baskets and close them at this point, preventing the removal of fruit therefrom through the spaces Bf between the strips B B. The transverse strips b', being mounted on the top portion of the longitudinal strips b, leave a space between the under side thereof and the top surface of the berries contained in the basket, thereby providing means for .ventila- 9o tion, and at the same time preventing the berries from beinginj ured by the pressure exerted upon the divisional partitions.

' The bottom of the crate is also provided with longitudinally-arranged strips E, having y.divisional spaces arranged between the same,

which permit of ventilation of the berries from this point, and also provide a drain through which the `iuice of injured berries. may run, and not remain in the crate and inroo jure the other berries therein contained. The lid or cover F is provided with a series of strips, s, on its under side, which are adapted to engage with the sides of the baskets when in position in the crate and hold the said baskets in place, also providing a space over the top thereof, which in like manner prevents injury to the top surface of the berries, and provides an air-passage for the ventilation thereof at this point. rlhese strips s are arranged transversely on the lid or cover F,and to extend only across the under surface of the said cover to such a distance that suicient space will be left in each side to the rear and front of the under side of the cover as to form no obstacle in closing the lid against the top x5 of the crate. On the top surface of the lid or cover F two transverse strips, F', are secured at each end of the said cover, and when the crates entire are arranged for transportation, and when one may be placed upon the top of 2c another, a space will be left between the bottom and the top of the other, (shown in Fig. 4,) whereby the fruit may be ventilated, as will be readily understood. The central longitudinal strip, E, of the bottom strips of the crate extends only to the outer edge of each of the lowermost strips, C, of the sides of the crate, while the strips E, arranged on each side thereof, extend out Hush with the vertical end strips, C. Vhen two crates are placed end 3o to end, an air-space is provided in the end by this construction, and an opening will be formed in the lower portion of each crate by the reduced construction ofthe central strip, E. In the construction of crates heretofore placed upon the market the slats have been usually placed over the divisional spaces formed bythe adj aeent portion of two baskets, and the ventilation at this point thereby eut oit, leaving the plain sides of the basket to 4o close with the openings. By my improvement, however, I so construct the crate that the space formed between a row of adjoining baskets will be in direct alignnientwith the space provided between the slats B B. The edges of the baskets on the sides of the crates are covered bythe side strips of the divisional partitions D. In the ends of the crate the spaces between the adjoining rows of baskets also register with the openings between the 5o strips C, and in this instance the top edges of the baskets are covered by the said strips and means provided for preventing the removal of fruit from the basket during transportation at this point.

By my improved form of construction it will be seen that I can obtain a perfect unobstructed ventilation by providing a construetion which allows a continuous regulation of air between and over the baskets of berries at all points and at all times, and, further, the malicious practice of removing berries from crates or boxes is prevented by having the tops of the boxes iuclosed, as herein set forth.

The novelty and utility of my improved device being obviously apparent and appreciable, it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

It will be observed that the end horizontal strips, C, close the space between the divisional partitions and the top ofthe baskets, as such strips C align with the tops of the baskets, as shown in Fig. 3; also, that when acarload ofthese crates are arranged side by side the openings separating the front strips, B, all

align with each other, eausin g an unobstructed l ventilation throughoutthe entire row of crates, the open space separating each pair of baskets coming in a direct line with the opening between the strips B, as will be readily seen upon reference to Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination of the crate, comprising the vertical strips B, set apart at intervals, causing intervening spaces B', and the longitudinal strips A, secured to the strips B at the topand botto1n,saidstripsABforming tht-sides of the crate, the horizontal end strips, C, arranged at right angles to the strips B and set apart,eausing intervening spaces,and the vertical strips C,secnred to the ends of strips C,said strips C C forming the ends of the crate, layers of baskets iilling the interior of the crate and arranged with Ventilating-spaces between them and opposite to the spaces between the strips C, a partition, D, between two of the layers of baskets, comprising longitudinal strips and transverse strips above the longitudinal strips, the strips resting on the two sides of each row of baskets and abutting against the horizontal end strips, C, of the crate, whereby there is secured ventilation transversely and horizontally of the crate and also between the berries and their. coveringpartition D, and the berries are confined seeurely, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY BROWN.

Witnesses.

WM. M. JONES, T. S. BnoKwITH.

IOO 

